Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

"You are welcome," Tenele replied warmly to her husband.

After lunch Tenele let Tenara have her cake. They sang her happy birthday and let her blow out the candles. She ate merrily, smearing icing all over her cute round face. After the cake Tenele and Tenara headed back out into the sun.

They played the rest of the day until late in the evening when Tenara's vast amount of energy finally ran low. After her evening bath Tenara ran to her father and clung to his legs. She was exhausted and it was written all over her face.

"Its time for bed," Tenele urged the little girl. "Say good night."

Tenara climbed into her father's lap, less gingerly than she should have, and wrapped her arms tightly around him. She pressed her lips to his cool cheek. "Good night, daddy," she murmured with a smile, snuggling her face into the crook of his neck.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Good night, Killer," Vlad mussed her hair affectionately. He couldn't bring himself to part from her, so he hauled her up in his arms to carry her to her bedroom at the end of the hall. "In you go," he flopped her playfully into the downy mattress and pulled her blanket straight up over her head.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara giggled as the blankets covered her. She pulled them down just under her chin. Tenele bent and pressed a kiss to the child's cheek. "Good night, my love," she whispered.

She looped her arm around her husband's and dragged him to the door. Stalker took his usual place at the foot of Tenara's bed. Tenele closed the door quietly, sealing the room from any sound. They'd placed a spell on all of Tenara's rooms that were a reverse of what they'd done for Talon. Tenara wouldn't hear anything outside the room, so she could sleep peacefully, but they could hear whatever went on inside.

Tenele slipped her arms around Vlad's waist and pressed her cheek to his chest She enjoyed the silence and peace of the house while she rested against him, trying to decide if she was ready for bed or not.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's arms slid around her as naturally as breathing. She felt warm and perfect against him. In the back of his mind, he was already thinking of ways to go about seducing her after her long day of playing in the sands. A particularly twisted thought raised a crafty grin in the corners of his expression as he kissed her head lightly.

He swooped her up into his arms, and carried her out to the parlor where a loveseat sat looking out on the beach. Vlad sat down with her securely in his lap and licked her neck fondly. "So much time until true dark. If I don't keep you entertained, you might be too far gone to watch the moon with me," he mused, nibbling gently along her skin.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled at him, enjoying the feel of his lips on her neck. "I'll do my best to stay awake," she replied. "But, you'll have to be creatively entertaining." She framed his face in her hands and kissed his lips tenderly. "I blame her limitless energy on you, just so we are clear."

[Soran Nightblade]

"I'll take responsibility," Vlad smiled against her neck. "I do have quite a bit of stamina." His tongue ran over her skin less innocently this time.

He didn't hear or even smell the intruder enter the house. His first warning was Stalker's warning presence in the back of his mind, howling through the link.

His second was Tenara's high-pitched scream.

The vampire stiffened, his glare shooting to the hallway. The next instant, the intimate moment was forgotten. He was standing in Tenara's bedroom, stock still, with Tenele tight in his arms.

Stalker's body was heavy and still in the corner, his blood smeared down the corner wall. The bed was unmade, and a figure stood beside it. Vlad recognized his scent before his features.

"Greetings, Vladimir," Maxwell said passionlessly, holding a sharp knife to the edge of Tenara's throat. The child was held firm against his chest, facing out so Vlad could see the terror and confusion on her face. "It's been some time."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele kicked out of Vlad's grasp the moment she saw Tenara in Maxwell's arms. Her heart went into her throat.

"Mommy," Tenara cried and the sound twisted Tenele's insides.

"Maxwell," she forced out, her voice quivering. "Put her down. Please. She's just a little girl. If you have a quarrel with us, we can handle it. But, let her go." Tenele held out her hand, inching a step closer. "Its okay, my love. Mommy is right here."

[Soran Nightblade]

"No closer, Queen's Maiden. I'd hate to damage such a pretty neck," Maxwell threatened, tightening his grip on Tenara.

"What do you want with us?" Vlad snarled.

"For an immortal, what a short memory you have," the demon smirked. "We had an accord."

Vlad's pupils shrank to tight dots. "Your memory is not much better if you think that's how we left things."

Maxwell rolled his eyes. "One year, Vladimir Dracul. Don't pretend it's the end of the world."

"Put my daughter down," power glowed in the vampire's voice.

"I gave you her life. I can take it away again," Maxwell hissed, his patience visibly thin. A pair of metal manacles lifted from his pocket and floated to the bed, where the dropped midway between he and the vampire. Vlad glanced at them, recognizing the lustre of the metal.

Maxwell smirked at the vampire's expression. "Put them on, Dracul, and walk to me. Only then does the girl walk to your 'wife'."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele turned her frightened gaze on Vlad, and then let them fall to the manacles. She wanted to argue Maxwell, to say that the queen did not condone this. That she ordered against this. But, the site of her daughter's neck so close to the bled made Tenele silent when few things did.

"Daddy," Tenara cried. Her little limbs trembled. She wiggled in Maxwell's grasp, wanting to get lose. She wanted her father.

"Shh," Tenele hushed. "Its okay. We're right here. He won't hurt you."

Tenara shook her head, the movement bringing her neck too close to the already close blade. "Stop, Tenara. Please, just be still." Tenele's heart fell to the pit of her stomach. She couldn't believe this was happening. This wasn't happening...

[Soran Nightblade]

Tenara's struggling drove Vlad near-mad with hatred. "It's going to be fine, Killer. Hold tight a minute," he said in a calm tone. His legs carried him slowly to the bed.

He didn't want to leave them.

He reached down, his fingers clasping one of the manacles.

How much would he miss in a year? How much would he change?

He clamped one heavy band shut over his wrist, and then the other. The fierce glow in his eyes flickered out permanently as the metal cut him off from his powers.

"This way. Slowly."

That was Maxwell. Always pushing for the next step. Never hesitating, never relenting.

Vlad had to pretend it didn't destroy him to begin walking cautiously toward the man.

[Emora Deen]

Tears stung Tenele's eyes. "Vlad..." she whispered, but she knew why he was doing this. She didn't want him to, but she needed him too. She needed her daughter out of that monster's grasp.

"Can't you let him have a moment with us before you take him?" Tenele asked the doctor, inching closer for her child.

[Soran Nightblade]

Maxwell frowned at her. "You've had three years. It's insulting that you take this as a surprise."

Vlad could see Tenara trying to reach for him as he arrived just in front of Maxwell. "When he releases you, child, run straight to your mother," he directed her sternly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara reached out for her father, her small fingers just barely brushing his clothing. It frustrated her that she couldn't hold him, and that frustration turned into tears. "Mommy," she cried, not sure why her father didn't want her to hold on to him. She didn't understand what was going on. Was he mad at her?

"Its okay, sweety. Its okay. When he lets you go, come right here. Daddy just has to go with him for a little bit," she told Tenara, her voice wavering. "Just run to mommy."

[Soran Nightblade]

Maxwell pocketed the knife and used the same hand to grip Vlad's arm stiffly. His other arm lowered Tenara unceremoniously to the ground and released her.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara ran to Tenele and the moment she was within arms reach Tenele pulled her up into her arms and held her as tight as she could. She buried her face in her soft silver hair, and the tears fell.

Tenara sobbed against her mother, and Tenele had to keep holding it together. She lifted her green eyes to Maxwell. Now that her daughter was in her arms she felt less hindrance to show her revulsion. "The Queen ordered you against this," she spat. "Yes, we are surprised to see you. Where are you taking him?"